Banjo song

Collected and transcribed by Mary Celestia Parler
Sung by Mrs. Allie Long Parker Hog Scald Holler, Arkansas April 6, 1958
Reel 299, Item 6
(The Banjo Song)
Happy was the only nigger runnin on the packet,
He got lonesome in the barber shop and couldn’t stand the racket So to amuse himself he steamed some wood and bent it,
Soon he had a banjo made, the first that was invented.
Now the mighty question was, how was he goin to string it Well, now thar is the possum's tale that I am a-thinkin
Hair so long, so thick and strong, just right for banjo stringin So he shaved them off as close as washt as in the graces (?)
Soon he had ’em sorted out from little E's to basses.

Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.

Collected and transcribed by Mary Celestia Parler
Sung by Mrs. Allie Long Parker Hog Scald Holler, Arkansas April 6, 1958
Reel 299, Item 6
(The Banjo Song)
Happy was the only nigger runnin on the packet,
He got lonesome in the barber shop and couldn’t stand the racket So to amuse himself he steamed some wood and bent it,
Soon he had a banjo made, the first that was invented.
Now the mighty question was, how was he goin to string it Well, now thar is the possum's tale that I am a-thinkin
Hair so long, so thick and strong, just right for banjo stringin So he shaved them off as close as washt as in the graces (?)
Soon he had ’em sorted out from little E's to basses.